Gate-valve.



PATENTED JULY 19, 1904.

(LE. HUXLEY.

GATE VALVE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 16, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented J'u1y'19, 1904.

CHARLES E. HUXLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GATE-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,430, dated July 19,1904.

Application filed May16, 1903. Serial No. 157,359. \No model.)

To all whom, to may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. HUXLEY, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Gate-Valves; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in valves, and refers morespecifically to arenewable seat-ring or member designed for use withgate-valves and the manner of fastening the same in the casing and alsoto a bushing for the valve-stem which is capable of application to otherforms of valves.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a gate-valve,showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofone of the seat-rings of said valve. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View of thevalvecasing, showing a modification. Fig. 4 is a view, partly in sectionand partly in elevation, of a globe-valve containing one of the featuresof my invention.

As shown in the drawings, A designates the casing or shell of agate-valve, provided with an inlet branch A and an exit branch A Adesign ates the neck of the valve, to which the usual bonnet A* isattached, the lower end of said bonnet being interiorly screw-threadedto fit over the exteriorly-screw-threaded neck.

B designates the valve gate or closure, which is located in the casingbetween the branches A A and engages when seated seats at the inner endsof the branches. The gate is adapted to be lifted or drawn upwardly intothe neck A by means of a rotative endwise-immovable screw-shaft whichextends upwardly through the neck and has screw-threaded engagement withthe gate, as shown in Fig. 1.

C C designate my improved seat rings, against the inner margin of whichthe gate or closure seats. As herein shown, two of such seat-rings areemployed, one at each side of the gate; but, if desired, a singleremovable seat-ring may be employedthat at the ind uction side of thevalve. Said rings are made substantially alike, each consisting of aring member 0, formed on its inner side to provide a seat 0, againstwhich the gate seats. The outer margin of each ring member is providedwith an exteriorly-tapered or wedge surface 0 which bears against anopposing annular inwardly-facing tapered wedge-surface a at the innerend of the adjacent or associated branch. The ring members 0 of theseat-rings are provided at their lower sides with lugs 0 which aredesigned to enter pockets A formed in the lower side wall of thevalve-casing just below the branches. The inner walls a of said pocketsare tapered, and the inner faces of the lugs or extensions 0 of theseat-rings are correspondingly tapered and are adapted to bear againstsaid tapered surfaces a. When inserting and fastening the rings inplace, said rings are dropped downwardly through the neck A which ismade large enough to receive the same, with said lugs or extensions 0entering the pockets A above referred to. VVh'en each ring is firstdropped into the easing, (which of course is before the gate is inplace,) the upper side thereof is inclined toward the center of thevalve-casing with the tapered inner face of the lug a engaging theinclined inner wall of the pocket and the lower part of the tapered ringmember extending into the lower side of the adjacent branch. The ring isthereafter swung laterally toward the adjacent branch, and by reason ofthe taper of the outer margin of the ring member 0, which reduces thediameter of said outer margin of the ring, said outer margin readilyenters the opening at the inner end of the branch, so as to bring thewedge surfaces (2 and a, respectively, of the ring and the branch intocontact, and thereby provide a joint between the ring and easing.

Any suitable means may be employed for forcing and locking theseat-rings in place. The means herein shown consists of a ring D,located inside the neck A and having exterior screw-threads adapted toengage interior screw-threads in the neck. Said ring is provided on itslower margin with an exterior tapered surface d, adapted to engagecorresponding and opposing inclined surfaces on lugs or extensions 0' atthe upper side of the seat-rings, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, saidcoacting inclined or wedge parts being con structed to force the upperparts of the seatring toward the wall of the casing. By reason of thefulcrum afforded said rings by engagement of the lugs or extensions 0 atthe lower sides of said rings with the inclined walls of the pockets Aoutward or lateral pressure exerted against thelugs c at the upper sidesof the rings acts to force the tapered outer margins of said rings intoclose contact with the tapered surfaces at the inner ends of thebranches and affords fluid-tight joints between said parts.

I have herein shown both sides of the valve as provided with theseat-ring G, both being held in place by the same locking-ring 1). I mayemploy, however, but a single removable and renewable seat-ring andlocate the same at the induction side of the valve, and ordinarily thiswill be sufficient, as under usual conditions it is only this side ofthe valve which needs to be closely packed. The side of the gate orclosure facing the inlet branch A is made vertically flat, while theopposite side of the gate is tapered and the associated seat-ring C iscorrespondingly tapered. If the seat-ring be omitted on the tapered sideof the gate, said tapered side of the gate will bear against acorrespondingly tapered seat formed on the metal wall of the casingsurrounding the branch A Said wedge-shaped parts of the gate and easingact to force the opposite side of the gate in close-fitting engagementwith the seat-ring C at the induction side of the valve. If desired,both sides of the gate may be tapered.

When the ring C is worn or has otherwise become disabled, it may bereadily removed by first removing the bonnet and unscrewing the ring D,whereupon the seat-ring is made easy of access to be removed from thecasing.

In some instances the pocket or pockets A may be formed between the sidewalls of the casing and a removable or separate block A,- (shown in Fig.3,) having tapered outer ends a", which constitute the inner walls ofsaid pockets. In this construction the lower sides of the rings areforced outwardly by forcing upwardly said block, which is accomplishedby set-screws A extending upwardly through the lower wall of the casingand impinging against the lower side of said block. hen said block isthus forced imwardly,the tapered ends thereof engage the tapered facesof the lugs c and act to force or spread the same outwardly, and therebyforce or hold the lower side of the ring in close contact with thetapered inner surfaces of the branches. I

The rotative valve stem or shaft B1 extends upwardly through a bushingE, located within the bonnet A", and with which bushing said stem orshaft has bearing. Said bushing conveaaso forms exteriorly to theinterior shape of the bonnet and is provided at its lower end with anintegral radial flange E, which extends outwardly and is clamped betweenthe upper margin of the neck A and internal downwardly-facing shoulderin the bonnet. The shaft or stem is provided near its upper end with anannular radial flange b, which is in terposed between adownwardly-facing internal shoulder a in the bonnet and the upper faceor margin of the upper end of said bushing E. The interposition of saidstem-flange between said opposing shoulders holds the stem or shaft fromendwise movement and at the same time permits said shaft to freely turnor rotate. The shaft extends outwardly through a cap A which closes theupper end of said bonnet and has screw-threaded engagement therewith andis provided at its upper end with the usual hand-wheel for rotating theshaft. Between said shaft and the part of the bonnet between the outerend thereof and said flange a is placed an annular body of packing,which is held in place by means of a gland A", which isheld in place bysaid screw-cap A The lower side of the flange E of said bushing isprovided with a depending flange c, which fits closely within the upperopen end of the neck The purpose of said flange is to prevent the uppermargin of the neck from being distorted or pressed inwardly when thebonnet is turned down in place. The screw-threads of the meeting ends ofsaid parts are usully slightly tapered, so that when the parts areturned tightly together the outer surrounding part or flange of thebonnet exerts such stress on the neck as to tend to force the uppermargin of the neck inwardly and contract the same. As a result of suchdistortionthe area of contact between the screw-threads islessened,.with a result of weakening the joints between the neck andbonnet. Moreover, such contraction of the neck prevents the ready withdrawal of the locking-ring D whenits removal is desired. The presence ofthe flange a on the lower end of the bushing supports the upper end ofthe neck against such stress and prevents distortion of the same. Thislast-- described feature of my inventionto wit. the depending flange onthe lower end of the bushingis applicable for use in a globevalve--such,for instance,as shown in my prior application for United States LettersPatent, Serial No. 148,685, filed March 20, 1908, and as alsoillustrated in Fig. 4:. As shown in said Fig. 4, F designates a bushingWhich corresponds with the bushing E hereinabove described. Said bushingF is located Within a bonnet G, which has screw-threaded connection withthe neck H of the valve-casing H and provided with an integral flange f,which is clamped between the upper end of the neck and an internalshoulder in said bonnet. The valve disk or closure I is in this instancemoved toward and from its seat t by means of a screw-threaded stem I, tothe lower end of which said closure is attached and which stem hasscrew-threaded engagement with said bushing. The bushing is provided atits lower end with a depending integral flange f, which fits within theopen end of the neck and supports the upper end of the neck from inwarddistortion when the bonnet is turned down home in the same manner asdoes the similar construction shown in Fig. 1. In the construction shownin said Fig. 4E contraction of the open end of the neck prevents thevalve disk or closure from being removed from the casing through theneck the same as such a contraction of the neck of the casing shown inFig. 1 would prevent the ready removal of the locking-ring D.

It will of course be understood that the position of the valves may bechanged from that illustrated, depending upon the direction of thepipe-line in which the valves or either of them may be included. Thereference to the horizontal and vertical relation of the parts of thevalves are therefore tobe regarded as employed only for the sake ofconvenient reference to the parts illustrated.

I claim as my invention 1. In a gate-valve, the combination with thecasing and its tubular branch provided at its inner end with an annulartapered surface, of a seat-ring having an exterior tapered surfaceadapted to enter and engage the tapered surface of the branch; saidseat-ring having wedging engagement at its lower side with the casingand a part having screw-threaded engagement with the casing and wedgingengagement with the upper side of the seat-ring.

2. In a gate-valve the combination with the casing and its tubularbranch, of a seat-ring at the inner end of the branch having tapered orwedging engagement therewith, and formed at its inner side to constitutea seat, and a wedge-shaped lockingring having screwthreaded engagementwith the neck of the valve-casing for locking the seat-ring in place.

3. In a gate-valve the combination with the casing and its tubularbranch, of a seat-ring at the inner end of the branch having anexteriorly-tapered outer margin adapted to enter and engage theinteriorly-tapered inner end of the branch, and formed on its inner sideto constitute a seat, a part at the lower side of said seat-ring adaptedto enter apocket formed in the casing, and a locking-ring having screwthreaded engagement with the valve-casing and provided on its lowermargin with a tapered or wedge surface adapted to engage a correspondingsurface at the upper side of said seat-ring.

4. In a gate-valve the combination with the casing and its tubularbranch, of a seat-ring having an exteriorly-tapered outer margin whichfits within the interiorly-tapered part of the inner end of the branchand is formed at its inner side to constitute a seat, a lug on the lowerside of the seat-ring adapted to engage a tapered abutment in the lowerpart of the casing, and a locking-ring having screwthreaded engagementwith the casing and provided with a tapered lower margin adapted toengage a corresponding tapered surface on a lug projecting from theupper side of said seat-ring.

5. In a gate-valve the combination with the casing and its tubularbranch, of a seat-ring at the inner end of the branch having anexteriorly-tapered outer margin adapted to enter and engage theexteriorly-tapered inner end of the branch and formed at its inner sideto constitute a valve-seat, a lug on the lower side of said ring, ablock in the lower part of the casing having a tapered or wedge-shapedend adapted to engage said ring-lug, and means acting on the block forforcing the wedgeshaped end thereof against said lug.

6. In a gate-valve, the combination with the casing and the tubularinduction and eduction branches thereof, of seat-rings at the inner endsof the branches provided with tapered outer margins which are adapted toengage corresponding tapered surfaces at the inner ends of the branches;said seat-rings having wedging engagement at their lower sides with thecasing, and a locking device having screwthreaded engagement with thecasing and wedging engagement with the upper sides of both seat-rings.

7. In a gate-valve the combination with the casing and its tubularinduction and eduction branches, of seat-rings at the inner ends of saidbranches having tapered or wedging engagementtherewith and a wedge-shapelocking-ring having screw-threaded engagement with the neck of thevalve-casing for locking both of said seat-rings in place.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a valveseat ring formed on one sideto constitute a valve-seat and exteriorly tapered on its other marginand lugs on the opposite sides of said ring, the upper lug beingprovided on its inner face with a tapered or wedge surface.

9. The combination with a valve-casing provided with a tubular neck, aseat, a closure engaging said seat, a rotative stem attached to saidclosure and extending outwardly through said neck and a bonnet havingexteriorly-screw-threaded engagement with the outer end of said neck, ofa bushing in said bonnet with which the stem has rotative engagement anda curved flange on the lower end of said bushing which enters the upperend of said neck and supports it from inward distortion. i

10. The combination with a valve-casing provided with a'neck, a seat,-aclosure engaging said seat, a rotative stem attached to said closure andextending outwardly through said neck and a bonnet havingexteriorly-screwthreaded engagement with the outer end of said neck, ofa bushing in said bonnet with my invention I aflix my signature, inpresence which the stem has Totative engagement, a "of two witnesses,this 12th day of May, A. D. IO radial flange on said bushing which isclamped 1903. between said neck and bonnet and a curved *1 i 5 flange inthe lower end of the bushing which CHARLES E enters the upper end ofsaid neck and supports Witnesses: it from inward distortion. \VILLIAM L.HALL, In testimony that I claim the foregoing as GERTRUDE BRYCE.

